Jessica Korda will be aiming to defend her Tournament of Champions title in Florida with sister Nelly Korda, Michelle Wie West, US Davis Cup captain Mardy Fish and former baseball pitcher John Smoltz all taking part at the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando
Wednesday 12 January 2022 21:54, UK
Defending champion Jessica Korda, sister Nelly Korda and Michelle Wie West are among the star-studded field committed to playing in the LPGA's season-opening event in Florida later this month.
Jessica Korda defeated Danielle Kang with a dramatic 25-foot birdie putt on the first play-off hole to win the Tournament of Champions last January.
She will be back along with her sister Nelly as well as Danielle Kang, Brooke Henderson, Lydia Ko, Inbee Park, Ariya Jutanugarn, Anna Nordqvist and Stacy Lewis, who have all committed to playing.
Wie West qualified to play in the 2021 tournament based on her victory at the 2018 HSBC Women's World Championship.
The 32-year-old did not play in the 2021 tournament while on maternity leave after giving birth in 2020, making her eligible to compete this year.
The celebrity competition will feature 50 stars, including 2021 champion Mardy Fish, and 2019 and 2020 champion John Smoltz.
Others in the field include Annika Sorenstam, Jack Wagner, Blair O'Neal, and NFL greats Marcus Allen and Charles Woodson.
The purse has been increased by 25 percent to $1.5 million with the celebrity field competing for a $500,000 purse using a modified Stableford format.
